One notable real - life Yakuza story is about the Yamaguchi - gumi, the largest Yakuza syndicate. There was a time when they tried to 'go legitimate' in some aspects, like getting involved in construction business. But their criminal roots always seemed to surface. For example, there were cases of extortion against local businesses to get construction contracts.
One real life yakuza story is about how some yakuza groups were involved in the construction business in Japan. They used their influence to get contracts, often through intimidation. For example, they would threaten other smaller companies to step aside from bidding on certain projects. This not only affected the business environment but also the overall economy in some areas.
Yes. There's the story of a former Yakuza who started a non - profit organization to help at - risk youth stay away from the gang life. He used his knowledge of the Yakuza's recruitment and indoctrination methods to create programs that provided positive alternatives.
One of the best yakuza stories is about loyalty within the yakuza clans. For example, there are tales of yakuza members who would sacrifice themselves to protect their bosses. They consider honor and loyalty above all else, and these stories often show how they adhere to a strict code of conduct even in the face of danger.
In the Yakuza series, the story of Yakuza 0 is often considered one of the best. It sets the foundation for the series with its engaging characters like Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima. The game takes you back to 1988 and shows their rise in the criminal underworld. The complex relationships, power struggles, and the overall atmosphere of the game make its story stand out.
Yes. There was a yakuza group that was involved in the protection of a particular traditional art form in a small town. They would ensure that the artists had the resources they needed and protected the venues where the art was performed. But they also had their own motives, like using it as a front to launder money.
There's a story of a yakuza gang that tried to go legitimate. They started investing in real estate. However, they still had a hard time shaking off their old ways. They got into disputes with other legitimate developers using some of their old intimidation tactics. Eventually, they realized they couldn't fully transition without completely changing their leadership and culture. It was an interesting case of the struggle between the criminal past and the attempt at a legal future.
Former yakuza members can often tell the best yakuza stories. They have first - hand experience of the life, the rules, the hierarchies, and the events that occur within the yakuza world. Their stories are likely to be more authentic as they've lived through it.
One of the well - known best yakuza novels is 'Tokyo Underworld' by Robert Whiting. It delves deep into the seedy underworld of the yakuza in Tokyo, showing their power struggles, criminal activities, and the complex web of relationships within the organization. Another great one could be 'Out' by Natsuo Kirino. Although not strictly a traditional yakuza - centric novel, it involves elements of the criminal underworld where the yakuza operate, and it's a very gripping story of women involved in a crime related to the yakuza world. Then there's 'Six Four' by Hideo Yokoyama which also touches on the yakuza influence in Japanese society among other complex themes.